The Beverage Report Podcast

Szilvia Rosental

Hi everyone! I'm Szilvi and I'll be leading the Beverage Report Podcast (BRP) this year with my brilliant co-head Aditi. I'm very excited for all we can accomplish this year as a small community and the speakers we will be able to interact with. When I'm not doing BRP or uni work, you can find me exploring London, walking around in the Royal parks or trying my hand at the guitar and rowing.

Aditi Vittal

Hi! I’m Aditi, a third year economics student, and I am excited to be co-host for Beverage Report! I enjoy charcoal sketching and oil painting in my free time. As an avid reader I love visiting bookshops, and listening to alt rock. I hope to bring new ideas and inspirational economists to you this year!

Anjeel Kaur

Hi everyone! I'm Anjeel, a final-year BSc Economics student. I enjoy working out, performing and spending time in nature. 

I'm thrilled to be leading the outreach effort this year, making the Beverage Report more accessible and engaging for our listeners. If you have any suggestions on how we can do better, please don't hesitate to reach out to a.kaur8@lse.ac.uk! Thank you :)

Akshat Adlakha

Hi guys, I’m Akshat and I'm from India, studying economics while staying at Rosebery. I'm a huge nerd with particular interests in television, movies and star wars. I'm moderately into fitness and don’t say no to any sporting invite. I follow football and try to follow F1 as well. Other hobbies include cycling, Linkedin scrolling and movies.

Alex Lai

Hey everyone! I'm Alex and I'm a second-year BSc. Economics student. I enjoy playing tennis and basketball, debating and reading political philosophy! I like trying a bit of everything (I'm currently learning guitar although it isn't going well), including making podcasts! I'm so excited to join the Beverage Report and looking forward to producing interesting podcasts!

Jacinta Feng

Hi everyone! I'm Jacinta, a second-year BSc Economics student. I love to explore different styles of dance, such as hip hop, jazz, commercial, and lyrical. I also enjoy reading about history and going to musicals. I'm really excited to join the team this year!

Suryaansh Jain

Hi everyone! I’m Suryaansh, and I’m a third year BSc Economics student. I absolutely adore sports (an Arsenal fan through and through) and music (Coldplay is my religion). In my free time, I love playing squash, the guitar and reading all sorts of books. My favourite pastime is gorging on desserts (biscuits and cookies in particular) and then feeling extraordinarily guilty afterwards; which is also why I consider M&S Simply Food to be the finest establishment in the entirety of the UK.

Urvi Gaur

Heya! I'm Urvi, a second year BSc Econ student. I love listening to music (I worship Hozier), crocheting, and reading tragic novels. In my free time, I enjoy following politics as if it were a drama show. So excited to work with the amazing team this year :)

Dave Parsonage

Hey everyone! My name's Dave, and I'm a final year Economics student. Having just spent a year abroad, I very much look forward to returning to LSE and being a part of this team over the coming year! Outside of my studies, I can often be found tuning into a good podcast whilst wondering through the city and through parks, and I have a keen interest in anything Cold-War related, be that films, series or museums!

The Beverage Report Podcast was founded by two second-year BSc Economics students with the aim of sharing the pioneering work of the LSE Department of Economics to the wider LSE community and beyond. 

Founders Matthew and Tommy share a passion for economics and a curiosity in exploring contemporary policy debates. They realised a great way to do this would be to engage with the experts working down the corridor: people who have changed the world through their policy work for institutions like the World Bank and Bank of England; or whose research has been so impactful that they have they been awarded the Nobel Prize. And with just a short trip to Westminster they could discuss key issues with politicians - leaders of political parties and former Chancellors of the Exchequer - and delve deeper into their role in shaping the economy. Supported by the LSE Department of Economics, the Podcast serves to spread the wisdom of these figures far and wide, in an accessible way. We hope you enjoy it!

In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, Szilvia Rosental interviews Prof. David Luke who share his immense expertise marrying theory and practice in the field of trade policy and negotiations, as well as development in Africa.

How does the AfCFTA change the current trade regimes in place in Africa? Is rapid growth we have seen in sub-Saharan Africa in recent decades indeed not sustainable due to "poor prospects for industrialisation"? How can Africa best prepare itself for the EU's CBAM legislation? Professor Luke answers these questions and more!

Professor David Luke is Professor in Practice and Strategic Director at the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa at the LSE.

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In this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast, Aditi Vittal interviews Dr Keyu Jin, who shares her insight into the Chinese economy, international trade and finance, as well as her new book, 'The New China Playbook: Beyond Socialism and Capitalism'.

What are the West's biggest misconceptions about China? How has the one-child policy impacted policy regulations and aggregate household savings? What insights can we glean from the collapse of SVB? Discover the answers to these questions and more in this episode!

Dr Keyu Jin is an author, economist, and currently Associate Professor of Economics at the LSE Department of Economics.

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In this very first episode of Season 6, Szilvia Rosental interviews Baroness Dambisa Moyo, discussing some of the most important current global trends and their potential impacts on the macroeconomy. How might geopolitical instability mould the landscape of investment opportunities? In what ways might AI impact growth and human development? Which sectors are the most vulnerable to the need to refinance maturing corporate debt as interest rates remain high? Discover the answers to these questions and more in this episode!

Baroness Dambisa Moyo of Knightsbridge is a member of the United Kingdom’s House of Lords. She is a principal of Versaca Investments - a family office focused on growth investing globally. She also serves on a number of global corporate boards including Chevron, Conde Nast, and the Oxford University Endowment investment committee. Lady Moyo holds a PhD in economics from Oxford University and a Master’s degree from Harvard University.

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In our 13^th and final episode of Season 5, Raza Rasool interviews Professor Matthias Doepke, discussing various topics within the field of family economics. Do parenting decisions influence inequality? What is Scandinavian-style parenting? How is fertility related to income? Discover the answers to these questions and more in this episode!

Matthias Doepke is a German Economist, and Professor of Economics at the LSE. His research deals with topics in economic growth and development, political economy, and monetary economics. Recently, he has worked on theories of demographic change, family economics, the role of political and cultural change in economic development, and re-distributional effects of inflation.

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Dive into the world of economics with Professor Imran Rasul in this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast. Gain valuable insights into labour, development, and public economics as Professor Rasul discusses topics such as inequality, vocational training, social mobility, and policy evaluation. Tune in to explore the journey of an economist and get advice for aspiring students interested in the field.

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Join us in an enlightening episode of the Beverage Report podcast as we engage in a conversation with Asli Demirguc-Kunt, a prominent Turkish economist and former chief economist at The World Bank. Discover Asli's pivotal role in creating the Global Findex Database, unravelling its impact on financial inclusion and its connection to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Delve into her research on digital financial services, fintech, and their potential to uplift small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries. Explore the determinants of banking crises and Asli's experiences as the chief economist of the Europe and Central Asia region at The World Bank. Don't miss this insightful discussion on economic development, poverty reduction, and gender equality.

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Continue the captivating conversation with Sir Oliver Hart, Nobel laureate and expert in contract theory, in part two of our LSE Beverage Report podcast. Explore his recent research on corporate social responsibility, shareholder rights, and behavioural contracts. Gain valuable perspectives on how corporations can balance profit objectives with social and environmental impacts. Sir Oliver also shares thoughts on opportunities for young economists and provides advice for students aspiring to pursue a career in economics. If you missed part one, catch up on his life, career, and groundbreaking contributions to the theory of incomplete contracts.

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Embark on a fascinating journey with Nobel laureate Sir Oliver Hart in this episode of the LSE Beverage Report podcast. From his early days as a student to groundbreaking research on incomplete contracts, learn about Sir Oliver's life and career. Gain insights into contract theory, ownership structures, and the governance of corporations. Stay tuned for part two, where we delve into his recent research on corporate social responsibility, shareholder rights, and behavioural contracts.

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Join Professor Leah Boustan, a distinguished economic historian at Princeton University, in this episode of the Beverage Report Podcast. Delve into her expertise on the Great Migration, white flight, and the profound impact of immigration on the American economy. Explore the evolution of the American Dream over time and how machine learning is shaping our understanding of immigrants and their descendants. Professor Boustan's insights into immigration and the economics of race have significant implications for policymakers navigating contemporary challenges.

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Join us for the second part of our conversation with Professor Bryan Caplan as he unveils the selfless reasons behind advocating for larger families. Discover the unexpected benefits beyond individual gains and hear his compelling arguments in favour of open borders, challenging criticisms regarding potential welfare strain. Professor Caplan also shares insights into his controversial book, "Don't be a feminist," debates government subsidies in public education, and provides a sneak peek into his upcoming book on housing.

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Explore the economics of the media industry in this enlightening episode with Professor Matthew Gentzkow from Stanford University. Rida Samreen delves into discussions on conventional and modern media, the rationality behind media bias, and the emerging phenomenon of digital addiction. Learn from Professor Gentzkow, the Landau Professor of Technology and the Economy, as he provides insights into applied microeconomics with a specific focus on media industries. Discover the rationality behind media bias and gain a deeper understanding of the economics shaping the media landscape today.

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In this episode of the Beverage Report, Raza Rasool engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Professor Juliet Shor from Boston College. Discover the implications of the 4-day workweek pilot in the UK and its success, as well as potential barriers to implementation. Professor Shor, an economist and sociologist, shares her expertise on work, consumption, and climate change, offering valuable insights into the impact of global crises on consumer behaviour and the journey towards greater sustainability.

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Join Rida Samreen in this episode as she delves into the impactful research of Dr Ng Kok-Hoe, a Senior Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore. Explore the success of Dr Ng's nationwide street count in 2019, shedding light on homelessness in Singapore and sparking crucial public discourse. Engage in the minimum income standard debate as Dr Ng shares insights from his research, addressing issues such as income security, social housing policy, and homelessness.

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In our third episode, Raza Rasool takes a deep dive into the state of the technological revolution and its impact on the environment with Carlota Perez, the author of 'Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital'. They discuss the theory of technological revolutions, the current state of the technological cycle, the role of government in technology, Universal Basic Income, and the future of a green golden age.

Carlota Perez in a British-Venezuelan researcher, lecturer and international consultant. She studies the mutual shaping of technical change and society and the lessons provided by the history of technological revolutions for economic growth and development.

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In our second episode, Rida Samreen takes a deep dive into the Chinese economy and its global relations with Sitao Xu, the Chief Economist at Deloitte China.

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In this episode, Raza Rasool explores Dr Jena's unique career path, and the insights it lends him on salient issues such as the gender pay gap in medicine, physician burnout, and the overturning of Roe v Wade. 

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In this Beverage Report episode, Sarah speaks with Dr Rachel Ngai from the Department of Economics at LSE. She explains Africa’s structural transformation and how African women’s time allocation in home production and market jobs has changed over time. She also talks about the Hukou System in China. 

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In this Beverage Report episode, Sarah speaks with Professor Andrés Velasco, Dean of the School of Public Policy at LSE. He talks about his role as the Minister of Finance in Chile. He also explains the need for unconventional fiscal policies in the post-pandemic world, and why it’s essential for policymakers to understand the feedback loops between medical and economic factors. 

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In this Beverage Report episode, Sarah speaks with Lesetja Kganyago, Governor of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB).

He explains how his role as a policymaker varies from being in the Treasury to the central bank. They also discuss SARB’s inflation targeting strategy and inflation expectation anchoring.

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In our seventh episode, Sarah speaks with Professor Claudia Goldin from Harvard University. Goldin is an economic historian and a labour economist, which gives her a unique perspective when studying the role of women in the economy and the gender pay gap.

They talk about her recently published book Career and Family with a special focus on the novel idea of greedy work. They also explore how maternity penalty evolves as children grow up and become more independent, and the way the pandemic changed the price of work flexibility. 

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In this Beverage Report episode, Sarah speaks with Professor Thomas Sampson from LSE Economics. He explains the cross-region differences in the impact of Brexit on living standards in the UK. He also discusses which aspects of the performance of the UK economy are expected or surprising.

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In this Beverage Report episode, Sarah speaks with Hyun Song Shin, Head of Research at the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). He explains the role BIS plays in connecting central banks around the world to facilitate financial inclusion and stability. We also explore Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and the challenges facing CBDCs. Finally, we talk about the recent rise of Decentralised Finance and its implications on the traditional financial system.

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In this Beverage Report episode, Sarah speaks with Professor Ben Moll from the LSE Department of Economics on inequality. He explains how technology leads to higher inequality through income and wealth differences, and discusses whether the impact of financial asset ownership on wealth inequality is similar across developed and developing countries.

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In this Beverage Report episode, Sarah speaks with LSE alumnus Professor Alan Blinder from Princeton University on how his experience differs working for the Federal Reserve and the US Government, and what his opinions are on President Biden’s economic policies.

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In this Beverage Report episode, Sarah Wang speaks with Professor Edward Glaeser from Harvard University on urban economics and how the role of cities evolved over time.

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In this Beverage Report episode, Sarah Wang, the new host, speaks with LSE alumnus Dr Flavio Toxvaerd from Cambridge University on economic epidemiology. 

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In the podcast’s second Summer Special, Matthew Bradbury sits down with former Home Secretary and former Chancellor of the Exchequer Kenneth Clarke to discuss his life and times at the frontier of politics.

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Matthew Bradbury interviews the CEO of the Competition and Markets Authority, Dr Andrea Coscelli, to discuss the triple challenges he has faced navigating Brexit, COVID-19 and regulation of the digital monopolies. 

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Matthew Bradbury sits down to discuss with Professor Justin Yifu Lin his work as Chief Economist at the World Bank, the reform and opening up of China and what the objectives should be of development policy going forwards.

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Sami Petersen speaks to Professor Janet Hunter about economic history as a discipline, Japanese history, and the effects of COVID-19 on Japan.

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Sami Petersen speaks to Dr Swati Dhingra about COVID-19 in India, the pandemic’s effect on globalisation, and the updated economic effects of Brexit. 

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Sami Petersen speaks to Danny Quah about the economic modelling of international relations, COVID-19 in Southeast Asia, and the post-pandemic world.

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Podcast host Matthew Bradbury speaks to Melissa Dell about the economics of institutions, and what economists can learn from other disciplines.

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In part 1 of this 2-part episode, Matthew Bradbury speaks to Lord Adair Turner about his work as former Chairman of the Financial Services Authority and his hand in rebuilding the financial sector in the wake of the 2008 Financial Crisis. 

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In part 2 Matthew speaks to Lord Adair Turner about his work as former Chairman of the Committee on Climate Change and his current role as Chairman of the Energy Transitions Commission.

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Dr Rachel Glennerster discusses Development Economics and her experience at the forefront of both the academic and policy worlds.

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Podcast host Matthew Bradbury speaks to Professor Linda Yueh about her work as Chair of the LSE Economic Diplomacy Commission.

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Podcast host Matthew Bradbury interviews Martin Wolf CBE, to discuss the role of economists and the UK economy - then both in light of COVID-19.

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Lord David Willetts discusses his work on Intergenerational Fairness and the impact of his policies as Universities Minister, and how both of those are affected by COVID-19.

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Matthew Bradbury sits down with Dr Anneliese Dodds, Labour Shadow Chancellor, to discuss COVID-19, the Labour Party and being the first female Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer.

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In this summer special edition of The Beverage Report, Tommy Sharpe interviews Kevin Watkins on how COVID-19 is impacting the world's poorest children, the need for educational reform, and whether charities are paternalistic. 

Kevin Watkins is Chief Executive of Save the Children UK. He was previously Head of Research at Oxfam and has directed three Human Development Reports for the United Nations Development Program.

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(Photo credit: Africa Progress Panel)

Matthew Bradbury speaks to Professor Sir Tim Besley about COVID-19 in the developing world.

Professor Sir Tim Besley is School Professor of Economics of Political Science and W. Arthur Lewis Professor of Development Economics in the Department of Economics at LSE.

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Matthew Bradbury speaks to Lord Nick Macpherson - former Permanent Secretary to the Treasury - about his time under successive governments, what he has learnt from it and advice that he would pass on to his sucessors today. 

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Matthew Bradbury discusses all things monetary policy with Professor the Lord Mervyn King. 

Mervyn King was Governor of the Bank of England from 2003 to 2013 and is currently Professor of Economics and Law at New York University and School Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

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In an episode we recorded before COVID-19 escalated, we sat down to record an episode with Professor Silvana Tenreyro about how the Financial Crisis has changed the operation of Central Banks, followed by a discussion on women in economics. Silvana is Professor of Economics at LSE and an external member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

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An interview with Professor Ricardo Reis- one of the most eminent macroeconomists working in the UK- where we pick up from the previous discussion with Professor Wouter den Haan by discussing the role of macroeconomists, then launching into a discussion of the Eurozone Crisis, and what the Eurozone needs to become if it is to continue into its third decade.

Ricardo Reis is A W Phillips Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics.

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During a visit to LSE, the Queen famously asked why no one saw the 2008 financial crisis coming. Here, Professor Wouter Den Haan, a prestigious macroeconomist- co-director of the Centre for Macroeconomics and key figure within the LSE Department of Economics (Deputy Head of Department (Education))- discusses how macroeconomics has changed as a response to the crisis, and where he thinks it should have changed further. Interviewed by Tommy Sharpe.

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In the second episode, Matthew speaks to Professor Sir Charles Bean - former Chief Economist and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England - about the response from inside the Bank.

Charles Bean is Professor of Economics at LSE.

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In Episode 1, Matthew speaks to Lord Alistair Darling about the response to the financial crisis from his perspective at the heart of government.

Alistair Darling was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2015 (most recently for Edinburgh South West) and Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2007 to 2010. Lord Darling served continuously in the Labour government’s cabinet from 1997 to 2010.

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